The document, one in a series of seven reports from the Value of Children Project, discusses results of the survey in Japan. Interviews with 360 respondents provided data for the research. The volume is presented in six chapters. Chapters I and II describe the rationale, methodology, and the research sample. Chapters III and IV detail advantages and disadvantages and perceived economic costs and benefits of children. Chapter V focuses on family size preferences; family planning knowledge, attitudes, and practices; and predictions of family size and planning. Chapter VI summarizes findings, methodological problems, research needs, and issues related to population policy. Findings indicate that Japanese parents consider emotional rewards, childrearing satisfaction, personal development of the parent, and benefits to the family unit as important advantages. Disadvantages include restrictions on alternative activities, financial costs, and emotional strain. Methodology problems included objections to some of the personal questions and translation from the original English language questionnaire. Future research should investigate how values of children would change if Japan were further developed economically and industrially and what substitutes for the pleasures of children could be derived. A conclusion relevant to population issues is that imposing stringent policies to limit or influence family size would not work. Success could be found only in educating the public about population and environmental conditions and then waiting for individual action. (KC)